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Description

Mechanics: Classical and Quantum explains the principles of quantum mechanics via the medium of analytical mechanics. The book describes Schrodinger's formulation, the Hamilton-Jacobi equation, and the Lagrangian formulation. The author discusses the Harmonic Oscillator, the generalized coordinates, velocities, as well as the application of the Lagrangian formulation to systems that are partially or entirely electromagnetic in character under certain conditions. The book examines waves on a string under tension, the isothermal cavity radiation, and the Rayleigh-Jeans result pertaining to the enumeration of electromagnetic modes. Other topics include Planck's quantum hypothesis and Bohr's explanation of the hydrogen spectrum. The book describes the two branches of quantum theory, namely. matrix mechanics ,and wave mechanics; it also covers other topics such as waves, wave packets and the Schrodinger equation. The book cites some applications of the time-independent Schrodinger equation; the author then analyzes the separation of center-of mass-motion from relative motion relating to the hydrogen atom. Nuclear physicists, scientists, and academicians in the field of nuclear physics or quantum mechanics will find this book highly valuable.

Table of Contents

Preface
1. The Lagrangian Formulation of Mechanics
1.01. The Harmonic Oscillator; a New Look at an Old Problem
1.02. A System and its Configuration
1.03. Generalized Coordinates and Velocities
1.04. Kinetic Energy and the Generalized Momenta
1.05. Lagrange's Equations
1.06. Holonomic Constraints
1.07. Electromagnetic Applications
1.08. Hamilton's Principle
2. The Hamiltonian Formulation Of Mechanics
2.01. Hamilton's Equations
2.02. The Hamiltonian as a Constant of the Motion
2.03. Hamiltonian Analysis of the Kepler Problem
2.04. Phase Space
3. Hamilton-Jacobi Theory
3.01. Canonical Transformations
3.02. Hamilton's Principal Function and the Hamilton-Jacobi Equation
3.03. Elementary Properties of Hamilton's Principal Function
3.04. Field Properties of Hamilton's Principal Function in the Context of Forced Motion
3.05. Hamilton's Principal Function and the Concept of Action
4. Waves
4.01. Waves on a String under Tension
4.02. Waves on a String under Tension and Local Restoring Force
4.03. The Superposition of Waves
4.04. Extension to Three Dimensions; Plane Waves
4.05. Quasi-Plane Waves; the Short Wavelength Limit
5. Historical Background of the Quantum Theory
5.01. Isothermal Cavity Radiation
5.02. Enumeration of Electromagnetic Modes; the Rayleigh-Jeans Result
5.03. Planck's Quantum Hypothesis
5.04. The Photoelectric Effect
5.05. Bohr's Explanation of the Hydrogen Spectrum
5.06. The Compton Effect
5.07. The de Broglie Relations and the Davisson-Germer Experiment
6. Wave Mechanics
6.01. The Two Branches of Quantum Theory
6.02. Waves and Wave Packets
6.03. The Schrodinger Equation
6.04. Interpretation of P W; Normalization and Probability Current
6.05. Expectation Values
7. The Time-Independent Schrodinger Equation and some of Its Applications
7.01. Time-independent Potential Energy Functions and Stationary Quantum States
7.02. The Rectangular Step; Transmission and Reflection
7.03. The Rectangular Barrier and Tunneling
7.04. Stationary States of the Infinite Rectangular Well
7.05. Stationary States of the Finite Rectangular Well; Bound States and Continuum States
7.06. The Particle in a Box
7.07. The One-dimensional Harmonic Oscillator
8. Operators, Observables, and the Quantization of a Physical System
8.01. General Definition of Operators; Linear Operators
8.02. The Non-commutative Algebra of Operators
8.03. Eigenfunctions and Eigenvalues; the Operators for Momentum and Position
8.04. The Association of an Operator with an Observable and the Calculation of Expectation Values
8.05. The Hamiltonian Operator and the Generalized Derivation of the Schrodinger Equation
8.06. Hermitian Operators and Expansion in Eigenfunctions
8.07. The Role of Hermitian Operators and their Eigenfunctions in Quantum Mechanics
9. The Significance of Expectation Values
9.01. Time Derivatives of Expectation Values
9.02. Ehrenfest's Theorem
9.03. A More Precise View of the Correspondence Principle and of the Nature of Classical Mechanics
10. The Momentum Representation
10.01. Fourier Series
10.02. Fourier Transforms and their Application to Quantum Mechanics
10.03. Extension to Three Dimensions
10.04. Eigenfunctions of Position and of Momentum
10.05. The Unforced Particle in the Momentum Representation
10.06. The Stationary State in the Momentum Representation
11. The Concept of Measurement in Quantum Mechanics
11.01. Measurements: Classical and Quantum
11.02. The Uncertainty Principle
11.03. Realization of the Minimum Uncertainty Product
12. The Hydrogenic Atom
12.01. Separation of Center-of-mass Motion from Relative Motion
12.02. Use of Spherical Polar Coordinates in the Analysis of the Relative Motion
12.03. Spherical Harmonics
12.04. Orbital Angular Momentum Operators
12.05. Solutions of the Radial Equation; Energy Levels
12.06. The Hydrogenic Wave Functions
13. Matrix Mechanics
13.01. The Non-commutative Algebra of Matrices
13.02. Matrix Formulation of Quantum Mechanics
13.03. Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors; the Diagonalization of a Matrix
13.04. Solution of a Quantum Mechanical Problem by Matrix Methods
Appendix A. Electromagnetic Interaction Energies in Terms of Local Potentials
Appendix B. Canonicity of the Transformation Generated By Gb(Qj, Pj, T)
Appendix C. Most Probable Distribution of Energy among Cavity Modes
Appendix D. Poisson Brackets
References
Selected Supplementary References
Problems
Name Index
Subject Index
Other Titles in the Series in Natural Philosophy